Weather Map Analysis Name___________________________ Hour_____ 1. Identifying High and Low pressure systems a. On the map, locate the weather station with the lowest atmospheric pressure. Use a red colored pencil and draw a large L just above this station on the map. This L identifies the center of the Low pressure storm system called a cyclone. b. On the map, locate the weather station with the highest pressure. Use a blue colored pencil and draw a large H directly above this station on the map. This H identifies the center of the High pressure system called an anticyclone. 2. Drawing Fronts extending from the Low a. Warm Front-- The warm front shows the boundary where a warm air mass pushes a colder air mass. You can identify the warm front by drawing a line where winds change from S- SW in the warm air mass to easterly in the colder air mass. Use a red colored pencil to draw in the warm front. Half circles point the direction the warm air mass is moving. b. Cold Front-- The cold front shows the boundary where a cold air mass pushes a warm air mass. You can identify the cold front by drawing a line where winds change from N-NW in the cold air mass to S-SW in the warm air mass. Use blue colored pencil to draw in the cold front. Triangles point the direction the cold air mass is moving. 3. Drawing isobars a. Around the Low, draw and label the isobars representing 1004 mb, 1008 mb, 1012 mb, and 1016 mb. Isobars are smoothly curving lines that connect locations on the map that have the same pressure. Isobars bulge away from a Low pressure center when crossing cold and warm fronts. b. Around the High, draw and label the isobars representing 1028 mb, 1024 mb, and 1020mb. 1004.0 mb = 040 1008.0 mb = 080 1012.0 mb = 120 1016.0 mb = 160 1020.0 mb = 200 1024.0 mb = 240 1028.0 mb = 280 4. Shading in the area of precipitation Use a green colored pencil to “fence in” stations reporting some type of precipitation (rain, drizzle, thunderstorm) is occurring. Draw a heavy green line around the perimeter of the precipitation area and lightly shade in the outlined region. Completion Questions 1. A High pressure is referred to as an anticyclone. A Low pressure system is called a cyclone. By referring to your weather map, is precipitation generally associated with a cyclone or anticyclone? 2. Compare wind direction of air around a low-pressure center with wind direction around a high- pressure center. a. Which way does air circulate around the high? clockwise or counterclockwise b. Which way does air circulate around the low? clockwise or counterclockwise 3. Compare the intensity (strength) of precipitation associated with a warm front to the precipitation associated with a cold front. The most intense precipitation is found along the: cold front or warm front 4. Describe the locations of the precipitation associated with a cold front to the precipitation associated with a warm front. Along the cold front, the precipitation is found: a) ahead of b) behind c) on top of Along the warm front, the precipitation is found: a) ahead of b) behind c) on top of 5. Describe changes in temperature, wind direction, and atmospheric pressure associated with the passage of a warm front. temperature_____________ wind direction____________ pressure____________ 6. Describe changes in temperature, wind direction, and atmospheric pressure associated with the passage of a cold front. temperature_____________ wind direction____________ pressure____________ 7. Refer to your weather map. You know that the Low pressure system is moving E-NE. Predict three changes in the weather for Jefferson City, MO if the Low pressure system becomes located over Sault Ste. Marie. a. _______________________b. ___________________ c._______________________ 8. Identify the error in each of the following weather station reports. 9. Explain how today’s weather map can be used to predict tomorrow’s weather conditions..